Lid used in a device for making kefir using kefir grains

Abstract

A lid that is used in household devices for preparing kefir using kefir grains. The lid comprises a rotating means located in the lid, a stirring rod connected to the rotating means, a container with holes for placing grains for fermentation within it and equipped with a cap and mounted on the stirring rod, and a control unit connected to the rotating means. The lid assembly is characterized in that the container with holes is affixed on the stirring rod in such a way that the axis of symmetry of the container is not aligned with the vertical axis of rotation of the stirring rod.

Claims

1. A lid that is used in a device for making kefir using kefir grains comprising: a) a rotating means located in the lid, b) a stirring rod connected to the rotating means, c) a container with holes for placing grains for fermentation within it and equipped with a cap and mounted on the stirring rod, d) a control unit connected to the rotating means, wherein the container with holes is affixed on the stirring rod in such a manner that the axis of symmetry of the container does not align with the vertical axis of rotation of the stirring rod, whereby the easy-to-maintain lid provides optimal conditions for the performance of kefir grains and for keeping grains active during the process of fermentation to enable the preparation of high-quality kefir with improved organoleptic characteristics and functional activity.

2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the axis of symmetry of the container with holes is affixed at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the vertical axis of rotation of the stirring rod, whereby the angled position of the container creates the strongest flow of milk passing through the openings of the container and increases the turbulence of the milk, intensifying the interaction of kefir grains with milk inside the container.

3. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the stirring rod is removable, whereby sanitization of the rod after each use of the device is simplified.

4. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the stirring rod is made with a bend, whereby the size of the container can be increased to make it larger (longer) than the radius of the selected fermentation vessel which ensures ample space for the grains in the container and, as a result, the milk is better able to wash over the grains in the container which enhances the fermentation process of the milk; furthermore, the bend of the stirring rod contributes to better mixing of milk and an even distribution of microorganisms during fermentation.

5. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the container with holes is removable, whereby the container can be easily removed after the end of the preparation of the product for sanitization and working with the grains becomes easier.

6. The lid according to claim 5, wherein at the end of the stirring rod there is a fixing element in the form of spring arms made to grasp the container with holes and press closed the container cap, whereby the container may be easily and simply connected to and separated from the rod.

7. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the holes are located over the entire surface of the container, whereby penetration of milk into the inside of the container is increased and, thereby, enhances the interaction of grains with milk.

8. The lid according to claim 1, wherein a paddle is fixed on the stirring rod, made in the form of a toothed partition, containing at least 4 teeth and with a distance between them of at least 5 mm, whereby the turbulence of the milk in the layers outside of the zone of container rotation is increased, which improves the efficiency of fermentation and the organoleptic properties of the final product.

9. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the means of rotation is a drive motor, Whereby the fermentation process can be preprogramed for an automatic rotation at a given time for a given duration.

10. The lid according to claim 9, wherein the drive motor is made with the possibility of rotation of the stirring rod and with the possibility of its reciprocating movement in the vertical direction, whereby the turbulence of milk flow inside the vessel in which kefir is prepared is increased and improves the conditions to ensure uniform distribution of microorganisms and enhances the mixing effect inside the container with holes to increase the efficiency of the interaction of milk with grains.

11. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the control unit panel is located on the top side of the lid, whereby the user is able to easily and conveniently operate the lid and view status and settings.

12. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the axis of symmetry of the container with holes varies dynamically throughout the fermentation process, whereby the varied position of the container creates the strongest and most chaotic flow of milk passing through the openings of the container and increases the turbulence inside and outside of the container, intensifying the interaction of kefir grains with milk inside the container to improve overall kefir quality.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] The invented lid that provides optimal conditions for the performance of kefir grains and for keeping grains active during the process of making kefir is illustrated in the drawing (FIG. 1), which shows in section a device for making kefir, to which the invented lid is applied.

[0048] The device for making kefir includes:

[0049] housing 1 with a heat-insulating gasket 2 located between the inner wall 3, made of material with high thermal conductivity, and the outer wall 4 of the housing 1. Inside the housing 1 there is a vessel 5 for milk to be fermented into kefir, made mainly of glass. A lid 6 with a heat-insulating gasket 7 is located on top of the housing 1. Inside the lid 6, are mounted a control unit 8 and an associated rotating means 9, for example a drive motor, which provides the rotation of the stirring rod 10. The rotating means 9 is configured to rotate the stirring rod 10, and, moreover, it is possible to reciprocate the rod in the vertical direction (up and down). At the end of the stirring rod 10, made with a bend, a container with holes 11 is attached for the placement of kefir grains for fermentation, and made of a material resistant to acids.

[0050] The container with holes 11 is attached by fixing elements in the form of spring arms 12, made to grasp the container with holes 11, and a spring end arm 13 for pressing closed the lid 14 of the container with holes 11. The container with holes 11 is affixed to the stirring rod 10 in such a way that the axis of symmetry 15 of the container with holes 11 does not align with the vertical axis of rotation 16 of the stirring rod 10 (preferably at an angle of 90°).

[0051] The length of the container with holes 11 is selectively chosen to ensure ample space for the grains for fermentation in the container, leaving sufficient space for the milk to penetrate into the container and wash over the grains.

[0052] To establish the fermentation temperature, a heater/cooler 17 may be installed in the lower part of the housing 1, made, for example, utilizing a Peltier element. An accompanying heat exchanger 18, made, for example, of aluminum, is mounted under the heater/cooler 17. An accompanying fan 19 may be mounted under the heat exchanger 18. For the fan 19, openings for the air intake 20 and openings for air exhaust 21 are made in the lower part of the housing 1.

[0053] To regulate the process of making kefir, a control panel 22 is located on the lid 6 and connected to the control unit 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] The device for making kefir with the invented lid that provides optimal conditions for the performance of kefir grains works as follows:

[0055] Milk is poured into a glass vessel 5, the volume of which is, for example, 1000 ml. The vessel 5 is installed inside the housing 1. Grains for fermentation in the amount of 10-20 grams per 1000 ml of milk are placed in the container with holes 11, and the container 11 is closed with a cap 14. The container with holes 11 is affixed to the stirring rod 10, for example, with the help of spring arms 12, and with the help, for example, of a spring end arm 13, the cap 14 of the container with holes 11 is pressed closed. The stirring rod 10 with attached container with holes 11 is connected to the rotating means 9, for example, a drive motor. In this assembly, the axis of symmetry 15 of the container with holes 11 is located out of alignment with the vertical axis of rotation 16 of the stirring rod 10. The housing 1 is closed with a lid 6 with a built-in rotating means 9, for example, a drive motor, to which the stirring rod 10 with a container with holes 11 is attached. Thus, the container with holes 11 is immersed in the vessel 5. After that, on the control panel 22 the kefir preparation mode is selected. If a heater/cooler 17 is used, for example, utilizing a Peltier element, then, with the help of the heat exchanger 18, and the fan 19, the necessary temperature conditions may be maintained for the optimal performance of kefir grains. In turn, the stirring rod 10 with the container with holes 11 at the end begins to rotate and reciprocate with the help of the rotating means, for example a drive motor. Due to the location of the container with holes 11 at an angle to the vertical axis of rotation 16 of the stirring rod 10, the turbulence of milk flow inside the vessel 5 is increased and ensures that sufficient fresh milk washes over the grains inside of the container with the holes 11. The bend of the stirring rod 10 allows the use of container with holes 11 of a larger size, reaching a length of up to 0.9 of the diameter of the vessel 5. Thus, there is sufficient space between the grains inside the container with holes 11 to ensure the best contact of kefir grains with fresh milk during the fermentation of milk.

[0056] The duration of the preparation of kefir is approximately 24 hours. At the end of preparation, the control unit 8 sends a signal to the user on the control panel 22. To remove the kefir, the lid 6 is lifted, and the stirring rod 10 with the container with holes 11 is removed from the vessel 5. The container with holes 11 containing kefir grains for fermentation is disconnected from the stirring rod 10 by flexing spring arms 12 and 13. The fermentation grains are then placed in milk for storage until the next use. Kefir in vessel 5 is ready for consumption.

Conclusions and Ramifications

[0057] The inventive lid used in the device for making kefir is not limited to the described embodiment and can be modified in other embodiments which does not constitute departure from the true spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the container with holes for grains can have a different shape, or communication with the control unit can be carried out remotely, without installing the control unit panel anywhere on the device, for example, through a program installed on a mobile phone.

[0058] At present, a prototype device with the inventive lid has been developed. Tests of the device showed successful results in the preparation of high-quality kefir.